Sprint 'Game Ball of the Week'

by Bruce Raffel on Oct 26, 2010 12:00 PM EDT in Sprint Game Ball of the Week

(This post sponsored by Sprint)

Baltimore Beatdown will continue to give out a Sprint 'Game Ball of the Week' on a regular basis and in the Baltimore Ravens 37-34 OT win over the surprisingly tough yet winless Buffalo Bills, the choice is relatively clear. One might want to hand it right over to All-Pro free safety Ed Reed, but after the defense allowed the Bills to put 34 points on the board against them, I cannot see a way to give any defensive player a game ball.

Instead, we are presenting this week's honor to placekicker Billy Cundiff, who hit three field goals Sunday in the victory, none more important that the 38-yarder he nailed in overtime for the win. Cundiff was perfect on all three of his attempts and has proven all season long that the Ravens made the correct choice when they decided to retain him rather than turn the kicking chores over to veteran Shayne Graham, who was brought in for Training Camp to challenge Cundiff.

In addition to his field goal accuracy, Cundiff leads the league in touchbacks on his kickoffs, placing a high percentage of them deep enough into the end zone for their opponents to be forced to take a knee rather than risk bringing it out. Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens for their hard fought victory and especially to Billy Cundiff, whose play has resulted in earning the Sprint 'Game Ball of the Week.'

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Cundiff seems very fair to me

He was 3 for 3 on Sunday with a couple long FG and of course the game winner. I had a few doubts about Cundiff coming into this season judging by his history, but the guy is 10 for 12 this year and is maybe the best kick off guy in the league. I think alot of people got a bad perception of him from when he was young. Looking at kickers today, the best ones are all mostly veterans and have been in the league for a while. Cundiff got a bad rap as a youngin in this league and I am glad we have him now. We should be set at the kicking position for a while.

Alot of people want to give the award to Reed because of his two ints, but man was he out of position throughout that game, he has even admitted that.

"Audibles Are Overrated" - Cam Camoron

by Mr MaLoR on Oct 26, 2010 1:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

My thoughts exactly. Thanks for the “second.”

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Oct 26, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

With both ya’s, a few other Ravens stood out, but none as much as Cundiff. I used to think the Ravens would have to draft a rookie kicker each year until they found “The One” -do not believe they will have to do that as I am beginning to believe Cundiff is the now long-term solution.

I think your veteran kicker comment is very astute and insightful.

by vlad755 on Oct 26, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think there is a "one" for kickers

They’re the one position that depends almost entirely on mental state. If they go into a slump then they could be done for a long time. I mean lets face it just about every kicker in the league has the ability to do what the Purple Crush did for us on Sunday but not many can do it because of inconsistency and mental issues.

by Roa on Oct 26, 2010 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Should have went to F. Washington…

by ryantz on Oct 26, 2010 3:24 PM EDT reply actions

Not even funny.

I thought I had an appetite for destruction. Turns out, all I really wanted was a club sandwich.

by StuckInUtah on Oct 26, 2010 3:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The Bills' game ball of the week

went to Fabian!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Oct 26, 2010 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

by sam_ravens on Oct 27, 2010 5:00 AM EDT up reply actions

What about Flacco?

In all seriousness…. the dude put up 250 yds, 3 TDs and a QB rating of 111.0 on the day. I think that deserves a game ball. He was pretty consistent and accurate on all of his throws (minus the first few, I negate them due to jitters at the beginning of the day)

Or for that matter, how about Heap? The man got 2 TDs and was seriously hurt all game long. Just for the grit needed to put up that type of performance, I think Heap deserves at least a mention.

by Mstevens_Design on Oct 26, 2010 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

What about Flacco?

I wouldn’t expect Flacco to get a game ball from Bruce anytime soon.

… I think Heap deserves at least a mention.

Excellent point.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on Oct 26, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmmm

Need to reconsider Heap as you give me some food for thought. Unless the injury is really, really something minor and in no way related to head/neck/spinal issues, I have to maybe ding Heap for being slightly on the unwise side in choosing to continue to play. Competitive nature be damned, you are talking about head/neck -very serious stuff. So that is maybe why I deduct a point or two from Heap and give it to Cundiff. Otherwise, like you said, Heap makes a compelling argument also.

And BTW, I really do hope that whatever ails Heap and caused him to collapse unexpectedly, really is a minor issue and the big galoot will be ready to finish the season strong, “Raven Strong” (can we add that to "Play like a Raven?)

by vlad755 on Oct 26, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn’t expect Flacco to get a game ball from Bruce anytime soon.

I know that Bruce isn’t exactly the biggest Flacco fan, but you really have to look at stats here. The only kick that was difficult for any decent kicker in the NFL was that 48 yarder. He hit 2 other pretty normal kicks, but I do understand that 1 was in OT, which is awesome, but it wasn’t a crazy long FG.

I have to maybe ding Heap for being slightly on the unwise side in choosing to continue to play.

I don’t think that anyone will argue that Heap should have sat out from there on out. However, if the training staff let him go, then you can’t ding him for that. I trust our training staff enough to not put a guy out there if he was in any serious danger. That being said, I certainly hope that he is OK and it was just a stinger.

I think at the least Heap should share the game ball with Cundiff… but ultimately Heap deserves it more with his play on Sunday

by Mstevens_Design on Oct 26, 2010 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Ouch

Fair enough assessment. Might not totally be on the Flacco bandwagon (his no-call on the INT in the EZ was lucky as he just threw it up for grabs and he almost had another pick when he threw into double or triple coverage across the goal line to Q. He did have a good game and is a nominee for the Fed Ex Air POW (see story Wednesday on The Beatdown).

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Oct 26, 2010 10:40 PM EDT up reply actions

id have no qualms with flacco heap or cundiff.

i think heap deserves it most, 2 tds on the day

by sam_ravens on Oct 27, 2010 5:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Purple Crush wins the Game ball!!!!!!

The Orioles are going to open a can of Buck-Wieser on your ass......

by Zachary Beard on Oct 26, 2010 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

Billy's the man.

Enjoy these high praises, Billy, you’re on top of the footblall world, here in B-more. Now, just find a way to kick that long field goal, we’ll prob. need when Pitt. comes to town on a cold, poss. snowy Dec. 5 on Sunday Night Football (football night in America).

-Congrats, Billy, you da man.

by ravenstime on Oct 27, 2010 12:24 PM EDT reply actions